Balloon catheters having ultrasonically driven interface surfaces and methods for their use

ABSTRACT

A catheter comprises a catheter body having an oscillating driver, an interface surface mechanically coupled to the driver, and an inflatable balloon disposed near the interface surface. The balloon may be an angioplasty balloon, in which case the interface surface will deliver ultrasonic or other vibratory energy into a blood vessel as part of an angioplasty or related procedure. Alternatively, the catheter may comprise a pair of axially spaced-apart isolation balloons, in which case the interface surface can deliver ultrasonic or other vibratory energy into a treatment region defined between said balloons. The energy can thus act to mix or enhance penetration of a treatment held between said balloons in performing a vascular treatment procedure.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No.09/205,061, filed on Dec. 4, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,272 which wasa continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08,708,589, filed on Sep.5, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,218. The full disclosures of each ofthese applications is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to medical devices and methods.More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus andmethods for performing angioplasty, stent delivery, and relatedprocedures using balloon catheters having ultrasonically oscillatedsurfaces which can impart energy to a blood vessel being treated.

Despite the growing sophistication of medical technology, vascular(blood vessel) diseases, such as acute myocardial infarction (heartattack) and peripheral arterial thrombosis (blood clots in legarteries), remain a frequent, costly, and very serious problem in healthcare. Current methods of treatment, often expensive, are not alwayseffective. In the U.S. alone, the cost of treatment and support and theloss of productivity due to vascular diseases together exceed $40billion per year.

The core of the problem is that diseased sites within the blood vesselsnarrow and eventually become completely blocked as a result of thedeposition of fatty materials, cellular debris, calcium, and/or bloodclots, thereby blocking the vital flow of blood. Current treatmentsinclude drugs, interventional devices, and/or bypass surgery. High dosesof thrombolytics (clot-dissolving drugs) are frequently used in aneffort to dissolve the blood clots. Even with such aggressive therapy,thrombolytics fail to restore blood flow in the affected vessel in about30% of patients. In addition, these drugs can also dissolve beneficialclots or injure healthy tissue causing potentially fatal bleedingcomplications.

While a variety of interventional devices are available, includingangioplasty, atherectomy, and laser ablation catheters, the use of suchdevices to remove obstructing deposits may leave behind a wound thatheals by forming a scar. The scar itself may eventually become a seriousobstruction in the blood vessel (a process known as restenosis). Also,diseased blood vessels being treated with interventional devicessometimes develop vasoconstriction (elastic recoil), a process by whichspasms or abrupt reclosures of the vessel occur, thereby restricting theflow of blood and necessitating further intervention. Approximately 40%of treated patients require additional treatment for restenosisresulting from scar formation occurring over a relatively long period,typically 4 to 12 months, while approximately 1-in-20 patients requiretreatment for vasoconstriction, which typically occurs from 4 to 72hours after the initial treatment.

The use of ultrasonic energy has been proposed both to mechanicallydisrupt clot and to enhance the intravascular delivery of drugs todissolve clot and inhibit restenosis. Ultrasonic energy may be deliveredintravascularly using specialized catheters having an ultrasonicallyvibrating surface at or near their distal ends.

It would be desirable to provide improved devices, systems, and methods,for treating vascular diseases, particularly stenotic diseases whichocclude the coronary and other arteries. In particular, it would bedesirable to provide methods and devices for enhancing the performanceof angioplasty procedures, where the ability to introduce an angioplastycatheter through a wholly or partly obstructed blood vessel lumen can beimproved. Moreover, it would be desirable to provide mechanisms as partof an angioplasty catheter, which mechanisms can assist in initialballoon deployment and/or decrease the likelihood of subsequent clotformation and restenosis. The devices, systems, and methods, shouldfurther be useful with other procedures which employ balloon catheters,including stent deployment and drug delivery, where drug delivery can beachieved by deploying a pair of spaced-apart balloons for defining atreatment region therebetween.

The present invention relates generally to medical devices and methods.More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus andmethods for performing angioplasty, stent delivery, and relatedprocedures using balloon catheters having ultrasonically oscillatedsurfaces which can impart energy to a blood vessel being treated.

Despite the growing sophistication of medical technology, vascular(blood vessel) diseases, such as acute myocardial infarction (heartattack) and peripheral arterial thrombosis (blood clots in legarteries), remain a frequent, costly, and very serious problem in healthcare. Current methods of treatment, often expensive, are not alwayseffective. In the U.S. alone, the cost of treatment and support and theloss of productivity due to vascular diseases together exceed $40billion per year.

The core of the problem is that diseased sites within the blood vesselsnarrow and eventually become completely blocked as a result of thedeposition of fatty materials, cellular debris, calcium, and/or bloodclots, thereby blocking the vital flow of blood. Current treatmentsinclude drugs, interventional devices, and/or bypass surgery. High dosesof thrombolytics (clot-dissolving drugs) are frequently used in aneffort to dissolve the blood clots. Even with such aggressive therapy,thrombolytics fail to restore blood flow in the affected vessel in about30% of patients. In addition, these drugs can also dissolve beneficialclots or injure healthy tissue causing potentially fatal bleedingcomplications.

While a variety of interventional devices are available, includingangioplasty, atherectomy, and laser ablation catheters, the use of suchdevices to remove obstructing deposits may leave behind a wound thatheals by forming a scar. The scar itself may eventually become a seriousobstruction in the blood vessel (a process known as restenosis). Also,diseased blood vessels being treated with interventional devicessometimes develop vasoconstriction (elastic recoil), a process by whichspasms or abrupt reclosures of the vessel occur, thereby restricting theflow of blood and necessitating further intervention. Approximately 40%of treated patients require additional treatment for restenosisresulting from scar formation occurring over a relatively long period,typically 4 to 12 months, while approximately 1-in-20 patients requiretreatment for vasoconstriction, which typically occurs from 4 to 72hours after the initial treatment.

The use of ultrasonic energy has been proposed both to mechanicallydisrupt clot and to enhance the intravascular delivery of drugs todissolve clot and inhibit restenosis. Ultrasonic energy may be deliveredintravascularly using specialized catheters having an ultrasonicallyvibrating surface at or near their distal ends.

It would be desirable to provide improved devices, systems, and methods,for treating vascular diseases, particularly stenotic diseases whichocclude the coronary and other arteries. In particular, it would bedesirable to provide methods and devices for enhancing the performanceof angioplasty procedures, where the ability to introduce an angioplastycatheter through a wholly or partly obstructed blood vessel lumen can beimproved. Moreover, it would be desirable to provide mechanisms as partof an angioplasty catheter, which mechanisms can assist in initialballoon deployment and/or decrease the likelihood of subsequent clotformation and restenosis. The devices, systems, and methods, shouldfurther be useful with other procedures which employ balloon catheters,including stent deployment and drug delivery, where drug delivery can beachieved by deploying a pair of spaced-apart balloons for defining atreatment region therebetween.

2. Description of the Background Art

A catheter system having a pair of spaced-apart balloons with a coiledpiezoelectric strip therebetween is described in U.S. Pat. No.5,279,546. Catheters having elongate ultrasonic transmission elementsand inflatable cuffs are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,397,301;5,304,115; and 4,870,953. A tunneling catheter having a radiofrequency,laser, or ultrasonic active distal end disposed within an angioplastycatheter is described in EP 189 329. An atherectomy catheter having anultrasonically enhanced blade disposed adjacent an asymmetricallymounted balloon is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,662. Phonophoresistransducers disposed within porous, inflatable balloons are suggested inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,286,254 and 5,282,785. Other catheters havingultrasonic elements with the capability of delivering thrombolytic andother liquid agents are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,362,309;5,318,014; 5,315,998; 5,197,946; 5,380,273; 5,344,395; 5,342,292;5,324,255; 5,269,297; 5,267,954; 4,808,153; 4,692,139; and 3,565,062; inWO 90/01300; and in Tachibana (1992) JVIR 3:299-303. A rigid ultrasonicprobe intended for treating vascular plaque and having fluid deliverymeans is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,226. An ultrasonictransmission wire intended for intravascular treatment is described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,163,421 and Rosenschein et al. (1990) JACC 15:711-717.Ultrasonic enhancement of systemic and localized drug delivery isdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,267,985; and 4,948,587; in WO 94/05361 andWO 91/19529; in JP 3-63041; and Yumita et al. (1990) Jpn. J. Cancer Res.81:304-308. An electrosurgical angioplasty catheter having ultrasonicenhancement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,281. An infusion anddrainage catheter having an ultrasonic cleaning mechanism is describedin U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,058. Angioplasty balloon catheters having axialblade atherectomy, ultrasonic imaging, and rotary blade atherectomydevices at their distal ends are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,053,044;5,117,831; and 5,181,920, respectively.

This application is related to the following commonly assigned patentsand applications: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,725,494; 5,728,062; 5,735,811;5,931,805; U.S. Pat. Nos. 09/033,834; 09/223,230; 09/635,033; and09/653,678. The full disclosures of each of these patents and pendingapplications are incorporated herein by reference.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, improved devices and systems areprovided which combine both an inflatable balloon and an axiallyoscillated interface surface on a single catheter device. The devicesand systems are useful for a number of intervascular procedures,including (1) angioplasty and related procedures, such as stentdeployment, where ultrasonic energy delivered by the interface surfacecan soften the stenotic material in the blood vessel to facilitatedeployment and initial treatment and can also reduce residual clot inthe treated region in order to lessen the likelihood of restenosis, and(2) drug delivery methods where balloons are used to isolate a treatmentregion and at least one of the balloons is coupled to the interfacesurface so that oscillation of the balloon(s) enhances mixing andpenetration of a treatment medium localized between the balloons.

The catheters of the present invention will comprise a catheter bodyhaving a proximal end and a distal end. An oscillating driver isdisposed at or near the distal end of the catheter body, and aninterface surface is mechanically coupled to the driver so that thesurface can be axially oscillated relative to the catheter body. Aninflatable balloon is also disposed on the catheter body near theinterface surface, where the balloon can be used for angioplasty, stentdeployment, or the like, and optionally can be combined with a secondballoon to define a drug treatment region therebetween.

In a first specific embodiment, the interface surface comprises a distaltip which extends laterally over the distal end of the catheter body. Anangioplasty or stent delivery balloon is disposed on the catheter bodyproximal to the interface surface. Optionally, the interface surface canfurther include a cylindrical portion which extends over an axialsurface of the catheter body. In either case, a distal end of theballoon can be secured directly to the interface surface so that theballoon itself is caused to directly oscillate as the interface surfaceis oscillated by the driver.

In use, the catheters having interface surfaces including a laterallydisposed distal tip will facilitate penetration of the catheter througha partly or wholly occluded stenotic region within a blood vessel. Thedistal tip will be driven, and the catheter advanced through thestenotic material, with the ultrasonic energy softening the stenoticmaterial to facilitate advance of the catheter. The balloon, which isproximal to the distal tip, may then be used for either an angioplastyprocedure, stent delivery, or both. In either case, the interfacesurface on the catheter can thereafter be used to further treat thestenotic region with ultrasonic energy to reduce the amount of clotremaining in order to lessen the likelihood of further clot formationand restenosis.

In a second specific embodiment, the interface surface is disposed atleast partly within the inflatable balloon on the catheter body.Preferably, the interface surface and associated oscillatory driver areboth located entirely within the inflatable balloon, so that theinterface surface can be used to transfer ultrasonic energy directlyinto the inflation medium used to inflate the balloon. Alternatively,the balloon is mounted so that at least one of its forward end and/ordistal end is secured to a cylindrical interface surface. In this way,after balloon inflation, the interface surface will directly oscillateone or both ends of the balloon. The catheters of this type will beparticularly useful for performing enhanced angioplasty procedures,optionally with stent delivery.

A third exemplary embodiment of the catheter of the present inventioncomprises a pair of spaced-apart inflatable balloons on the catheterbody. A cylindrical interface surface is disposed between the balloons,with at least one of the distal end of the proximal-most balloon and theproximal end of the distal-most balloon being secured to the interfacemember. A fluid delivery lumen is provided within the catheter so that atreatment medium can be delivered to the region between the balloonswhen the balloons are expanded in a blood vessel. Mixing and/orpenetration of the treatment medium is enhanced by ultrasonicoscillation of the cylindrical interface surface when the treatmentmedium is present.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary catheter incorporating an interfacesurface having a distal tip and an angioplasty balloon disposedproximally of the interface surface, constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the distal end of the catheter of FIG. 1,shown in partial section.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the distal end of a first alternativeembodiment of the catheter of FIG. 1, wherein the interface surfacefurther extends over a cylindrical portion of the catheter body, shownin partial section.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the distal end of a second alternativeembodiment of the catheter of FIG. 1, wherein the angioplasty balloon isattached at its distal end to the interface surface.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the distal end of a third alternativeembodiment of the catheter of FIG. 1, wherein the distal end of theangioplasty balloon is attached to the cylindrical portion of theinterface surface of the first alternative embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate use of the catheter of FIG. 2 for penetrating astenotic region within a blood vessel and expanding a vascular stenttherein.

FIG. 9 illustrates the distal end of a fourth alternative embodiment ofthe catheter of the present invention, wherein a cylindrical interfacesurface is disposed entirely within an angioplasty balloon.

FIG. 10 illustrates a fifth alternative embodiment of the catheter ofthe present invention, wherein the angioplasty balloon is attached atboth its proximal and distal ends to a cylindrical interface surface.

FIG. 11 is a view of the distal end of the catheter of FIG. 9, shown inpartial section.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate use of the catheter of FIG. 9 for expanding astent within a stenotic region in a blood vessel.

FIG. 14 illustrates a sixth alternative embodiment of the catheter ofthe present invention, wherein the catheter includes a pair of axiallyspaced-apart balloons and wherein the distal end of the proximal-mostballoon and the proximal end of the distal-most balloon are eachattached to a cylindrical interface surface disposed therebetween.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for the treatmentof luminal conditions, particularly for the treatment of diseases of thecoronary and peripheral vasculature. Specific conditions includecoronary and peripheral arterial disease and thrombosis. The apparatusand methods are useful for primary treatment of such diseases, where thepurpose is to ablate, dissolve, or otherwise disrupt the clot, plaque,or other stenotic lesions which are responsible for the disease. Forexample, catheters constructed according to the principles of thepresent invention can be used to directly engage and transmit vibratory,usually ultrasonic, energy into the stenotic material in order tomechanically disrupt the material to open the associated blood vessellumen. The catheters of the present invention will also include at leastone inflatable balloon in order to perform procedures which combine useof the balloon with the ability to deliver ultrasonic or other vibratoryenergy.

Usually, the balloons will be angioplasty balloons useful for engagingand dilatating stenotic regions within a blood vessel. In such cases,the vibratory energy may be used either to enhance initial penetrationof the catheter so that the angioplasty balloon can be positioned withinthe stenotic region (e.g. by softening or disrupting the stenoticmaterial prior to balloon positioning), to soften the stenotic materialwhile the balloon is being expanded with or without a stent, and/or totreat the stenotic region within the blood vessel after the balloon hasbeen used to perform angioplasty, stent placement, or the like. In thelatter case, the transfer of ultrasonic energy can reduce the presenceof residual clot which can serve as nuclei for subsequent clot formationand restenosis.

The catheters may also include a pair of spaced-apart balloons, wherethe balloons define a treatment region therebetween which is useful toenhance the administration of therapeutic agents, where the therapeuticagents are primarily responsible for the disruption of the stenoticmaterial and/or lessening of restenosis subsequent to angioplasty. Insuch cases, the vibratory energy will be relied on to agitate andpromote the penetration of the therapeutic agent into the stenoticmaterial. Suitable therapeutic agents include known thrombolytic andfibrinolytic drugs, such as heparin, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA),urokinase, streptokinase, and the like.

The catheters of the present invention will comprise a catheter bodyhaving a proximal end and distal end. The catheter body will havedimensions and physical characteristics selected for the particular use.For vascular applications, the length of the catheter body willtypically be from 50 cm to 200 cm, usually being from 75 cm to 150 cm,and the diameter will be from 1 mm to 5 mm, usually being from 2 mm to 4mm. The diameter of the catheter body may vary over its length, anddifferent portions of the length may be formed from different materials.In the exemplary embodiment, the catheter body will comprise a singleextrusion having at least one lumen therethrough for providing aninflation medium to the balloon. That or another lumen, will usually becapable of receiving a guidewire, and may also be capable of deliveringtherapeutic agents and/or carrying electrical wires for connection fromthe proximal end of the catheter body to the distal end. Alternatively,the catheter body may include separate lumens for balloon inflation,delivering therapeutic agent(s), routing electrical wires for connectionto the ultrasonic transducer, or other purposes.

The catheter body may be reinforced over all or a portion of its length.Conventional reinforcement materials include wire braids, wire meshes,wire coils, helical ribbons, and the like.

When employed with a guidewire for placement within the vasculature, thecatheter body may have an “over-the-wire” design or a “rapid exchange”design. In the former case, the guidewire lumen will extendsubstantially through the entire length of the catheter body. In thelatter case, the guidewire lumen will terminate in a proximal guidewireport located relatively near the distal end of the catheter body,usually within 50 cm, more usually within 30 cm, and often within 25 cmor less. Usually, a proximal housing will be secured to the proximal endof the catheter body, where the housing includes a guidewire port, atherapeutic agent infusion port, an electrical connector, and the like.

A longitudinally vibrating assembly is secured at or near the distal endof the catheter body. The assembly will include at least one interfacesurface, usually present on an interface member, which is vibrated at adesired frequency, wherein the interface surface is oriented to transmitvibrations to the fluid environment surrounding the distal end of thecatheter. The vibrating assembly will usually be attached directly tothe distal end of the catheter body but also could be disposed partiallyor totally within the distal end of the catheter body. Usually, thevibrating assembly will have a relatively short length, typically beingbelow 2 cm, preferably being below 1 cm, and typically being in therange from about 0.4 cm to 1.5 cm, more usually in the range from about0.6 cm to 1 cm. The assembly will preferably have a low profile (narrowdiameter) to facilitate vascular or other intraluminal introductions,typically having a diameter below 6 mm, usually in the range from 1 mmto 5 mm, more usually in the range from 2 mm to 4 mm.

In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the interfacesurface will be forwardly disposed so that the surface may engageintraluminal obstructions as the catheter is advanced through the bodylumen, such as a blood vessel. In a second exemplary embodiment, theinterface member may also or alternatively include an interface surfacewhere at least a portion of the surface is disposed circumferentiallyabout the catheter body. The circumferential portion will usually be acylinder, and the interface member and surface will oscillate axially(i.e., back and forth generally in the direction of the catheter body).The energy will radiate away from the cylindrical surface of theinterface member in a generally uniform pattern, i.e., isotropically(radially outward). Such uniform radiation is particularly advantageousfor softening stenotic material and/or for enhancing the penetration oftherapeutic agents into a length of an intraluminal wall adjacent acylindrical interface surface.

In the exemplary embodiments, the cylindrical interface surface willtypically have a length in the range from 4 mm to 30 mm, preferably from6 mm to 15 mm. The outer diameter of the cylindrical surface willtypically be in the range from 2 mm to 5 mm, more usually from 3 mm to 4mm. The interface member may further include a forwardly disposedlateral surface, typically being formed laterally at the distal end ofthe cylindrical surface. The lateral surface may itself be flat, convex(in the form of a forwardly disposed dome at the distal end of thecylindrical surface), concave, or irregular. The cylindrical surfaceand/or the forwardly disposed lateral surface may also have surfaceirregularities formed therein. For example, a plurality of ridges,protrusions, or the like, may be provided for enhancing the transfer ofoscillatory motion into the fluid adjacent the surface.

An oscillating driver will be provided on the catheter body foroscillating the interface member in a desired manner. Usually, thedriver will be separate from the interface member. In some cases,however, it may be possible to provide an oscillatory driver which alsodefines the interface surface, particularly for radially oscillatingdrivers as described in copending applications Ser. Nos. 08/565,575;08/566,739; and 08/566,740, the full disclosures of which havepreviously been incorporated herein by reference. The drivers willusually be ultrasonic transducers, including tubular piezoelectrictransducers, piezoelectric stack transducers, magnetostrictive drivers,dectostrictive drivers, or the like. Optionally, the drivers may beincorporated in a resonant drive assembly, typically including a springelement attaching the interface member to the catheter body, where theultrasonic driver is a longitudinally oscillating driver disposedbetween the catheter body and the interface member. Longitudinallyoscillating drivers will usually be selected to oscillate with anamplitude in the range from 0.05 μm to 50 μm, often from 0.1 μm to 20μm, preferably from 0.5 μm to 4 μm. The details of such drivers andresonant drive assemblies are set forth in copending application Ser.No. 08/565,575, assigned to the assignee of the present application, thefull disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The catheters of the present invention will further comprise expansibleballoon members disposed proximally and/or distally of the interfacesurface(s) of the interface member. The expansible members, typically inthe form of inflatable non-compliant and/or elastomeric balloons, may beutilized to perform angioplasty or engage a luminal wall to isolate aluminal region to be treated. Materials and designs for incorporatingballoons in intravascular and other catheters are well known in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a catheter system 10 comprising a catheter 12constructed in accordance with the principles of the present inventionand a power supply 14 is illustrated. The catheter 12 includes acatheter body 16 having a distal end 18 and a proximal end 20, and aproximal housing 22 having a balloon inflation port 24 and a guidewireport 26. Usually, the catheter 12 will have at least a second lumen (notillustrated) for accommodating wires transmitting energy from the powersupply 14 to an ultrasonic transducer, as described hereinafter. Cable30 extends from the proximal end 20 of the catheter body 16 and includesa connector 32 which mates with connector 32 a on cable 33 from thepower supply 14. The power supply 14 will be selected to provide anappropriate current source for driving an ultrasonic transducer, asdescribed in more detail herein below.

The power supply and transducer will be selected so that the ultrasonicdriver typically operates in the range from 1 kHz to 300 kHz, preferablyfrom 20 kHz to 80 kHz. For example, the power supply 14 may comprise aconventional signal generator, such as those commercially available fromsuppliers such as Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto, Calif., and Tektronics,Portland, Oreg., and a power amplifier, such as those commerciallyavailable from suppliers such as ENI, Rochester, N.Y., and Krohn-HiteCorporation, Avon, Mass.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the catheter 12 includes a vibratoryassembly 40 at its distal end 18. The vibratory assembly 40 includes adistal tip 42 connected to a tail mass 44 by a spring member 46.Conveniently, the distal tip 42, tail mass 44, and connecting spring 46may be integrally formed, although such integral construction is not arequirement for the present invention. An oscillatory drive assembly 50is disposed between a proximal surface of the distal tip 42 and a distalsurface of the tail mass 44, and may comprise a cylindricalpiezoelectric element, such as those described in copending applicationSer. Nos. 08/565,575 and 08/566,739, the full disclosures of which havebeen incorporated herein by reference. Other longitudinal drivers, suchas stacked piezoelectric disks and magnetostrictive drivers (asdescribed in copending application Ser. No. 08/566,740, the fulldisclosure of which has previously been incorporated herein byreference), may also find use. The vibratory assembly 40 will be able tolongitudinally oscillate the distal tip 42 so that a forwardly disposedlateral surface 52 may be longitudinally oscillated, typically with anamplitude in the range from 0.05 μm to 20 μm.

An angioplasty balloon 60 is disposed on the catheter body 12 proximalto the distal tip 42, typically being spaced-apart from the tip by alength in the range from 0 mm to 30 mm, typically from 2 mm to 10 mm.The balloon 60 may be inflated through an inflation port 62 which isconnected to inflation port 24 on the proximal housing 22.

The distal end of an alternative embodiment of the catheter of FIG. 1 isillustrated in FIG. 3. There, a vibratory assembly 70 at the distal end18 (all common elements of the alternative embodiment will be given thesame reference numbers) of the catheter body 12. The vibratory assembly70 includes a tail mass 44, and a spring 46, each of which are identicalto the same elements in the catheter of FIGS. 1 and 2. Instead of thedistal tip 42, the catheter of FIG. 3 includes an interface surfacecomprising a cylindrical interface surface which extends over a lengthof the catheter body from 4 mm to 30 mm, preferably from 6 mm to 15 mm.The distal end of the interface surface terminates in a lateral surface52 which may have generally the same geometry as that of the catheter ofFIGS. 1 and 2. The oscillatory driver 50 will generally be the same asthat described previously.

The primary difference between the vibratory assembly 40 and vibratoryassembly 70 is in the nature of the interface surface. The interfacesurface defined by distal tip 42 and FIGS. 1 and 2 provides only aforwardly disposed, lateral interface 52 surface which is useful forengaging stenotic material directly in front of the catheter. While thevibratory assembly 70 includes an equivalent forwardly disposedinterface surface, it further includes a circumferentially disposedcylindrical surface which can impart vibratory energy radially outwardlyinto fluid surrounding the catheter tip. The nature and advantages ofsuch cylindrical and other laterally disposed interface surfaces aredescribed in more detail in copending application Ser. No. 08/566,739,the full disclosure of which has previously been incorporated herein byreference.

The catheters of FIGS. 1-3 each attach the angioplasty balloon directlyto the catheter body. Thus, vibration of the interface surfaces of thosecatheters is not directly coupled to the balloon itself. Referring nowto FIGS. 4 and 5, angioplasty balloons may be partly or wholly connectedto the interface surfaces which are vibrated by the oscillatory drivers.For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a balloon 80 may be attached atits proximal end 82 to the catheter body 12 and at its distal end 84 tothe distal tip 42. In this way, the distal end of the balloon 80 may bedirectly vibrated by the distal tip 42 in order to impart oscillatoryenergy to the balloon. The balloon may thus be directly vibrated andenhance the transfer of oscillatory energy into the fluid mediumsurrounding the catheter. Similarly, a balloon 90 may have its distalend 94 attached to the cylindrical interface surface 72 of the catheterof FIG. 3, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-8, the catheter of FIG. 3 may be used toperform angioplasty and optionally deliver a stent ST. Initially, thecatheter is delivered over a guidewire GW until the distal interfacesurface 52 of the catheter engages the stenotic material S within ablood vessel BV. The oscillatory driver of the catheter is then actuatedso that the distal surface 52 is longitudinally oscillated in order tosoften the stenotic material S and enhance penetration of the catheterthrough the stenotic material. In particular, ultrasonic energy may beradiated forwardly in a pattern indicated by wave front lines 74, asshown in FIG. 6.

After the catheter has penetrated the material in the stenotic region S,the balloon 60 may be inflated, optionally expanding the stent ST, asillustrated in FIG. 7. After the region has been dilatated, andoptionally the stent ST delivered, the catheter may be moved rearwardlyso that the cylindrical surface 72 is aligned with the region that hasbeen treated, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The catheter may again beactuated, and the cylindrical surface 72 will transfer ultrasonic waveenergy into the medium surrounding the distal end of the catheter, asillustrated by the laterally extending transverse wave lines 73 from thesurface. The ultrasonic energy will further reduce any residual clot orother stenotic materials which may be present after the dilatation inorder to reduce the likelihood of restenosis.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-11, further alternative embodiments of thecatheter of the present invention will be illustrated. In FIG. 9, acylindrical interface surface 100 is disposed completely withininflatable angioplasty balloon 102. An inflation port 104 is provided onthe catheter body 106, and actuation of the oscillatory driver, asillustrated in FIG. 11, will impart transverse waves into the inflationmedium within the balloon 102. In FIG. 10, a balloon 110 is attached atboth its distal and proximal ends to a cylindrical interface surface112. In this way, when the interface surface 112 is actuated, both endsof the balloon 112 will be longitudinally oscillated together with thesurface.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a first tubular transducer 120 and a secondtubular transducer 122 are disposed on the proximal and distal sides ofa flange 124 which is located in the middle of a tubular holder 126. Asillustrated, the transducers 120 and 122 are tubular piezoelectrictransducers, but they could also be piezoelectric stack transducers,magnetostrictive drivers, or the like, as described in more detail incopending application Ser. Nos. 08/565,575; 08/566,739; and 08/566,740,the full disclosures of which have previously been incorporated hereinby reference. In all cases, the transducers 120 and 122 will be wired sothat they oscillate longitudinally in the same direction, but 180 out ofphase. In this way, the total distance between the proximal end oftransducer 120 and the distal end of transducer 122 will remainconstant, while the ends of each transducer are displaced axially in asynchronous manner. An interface member 130 having the cylindricalinterface surface 100 is attached to the respective ends of the firsttransducer 120 and the second transducer 122. In this way, thetransducers will be driven in a longitudinally oscillating manner at afrequency determined by the characteristics of the transducers and themass of the interface surface.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, the catheter of FIGS. 9 and 11 may beused to dilatate and optionally deliver a stent to a region of vascularstenosis S in a blood vessel BV. Initially, the balloon 102 carrying thestent ST is positioned within the region of stenosis S, and thereafterthe balloon is inflated, as illustrated in FIG. 12. In order to furtherinflate the balloon and implant the stent ST, the transducers 120 and122 are activated in order to longitudinally oscillate the cylindricalsurface 102. Such oscillation induces transverse waves within theinflation medium within the balloon 102 as illustrated in FIG. 13. Theenergy will be farther transferred into the blood vessel wall, softeningthe stenotic material and enhancing expansion of the balloon 102 andstent ST.

Referring now to FIG. 14, a catheter 150 having a proximal balloon 152and a distal balloon 154 is illustrated. The balloons are axiallyspaced-apart, and a cylindrical interface surface 156 is disposedtherebetween. The interface surface 156 may be constructed identicallyto the transducer assembly of FIG. 11, except that a fluid transfer port158 will be provided in order to deliver a treatment medium to thevolume between the spaced-apart balloons 152 and 154. In use, thespaced-apart balloons 152 and 154 will be inflated within a blood vesselBV to define a treatment region R therebetween. A liquid treatmentmedium is then introduced into the treatment region R through thedelivery port 158. After the treatment medium is delivered to thetreatment region, the cylindrical interface surface will belongitudinally oscillated in order to transfer transverse waves into themedium. The distal end of the proximal balloon 152 and proximal end ofthe distal balloon 154 are secured to opposite ends of the cylindricalinterface surface 156. In this way, the inwardly disposed surfaces ofeach balloon are oscillated together with the interface surface 156.Thus, the balloons themselves can further act to impart vibratory energyinto the treatment medium contained within the treatment region R.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example, for purposes of clarity ofunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for delivering a stent to a bloodvessel, said method comprising: positioning a catheter carrying a stentwithin the blood vessel; inflating a balloon on the catheter to implantthe stent; and activating a transducer on the catheter to deliveroscillatory waves into the blood vessel wall in the region of the stent,wherein a distal portion of the catheter oscillates longitudinallyrelative to a proximal portion.
 2. A method as in claim 1, wherein thetransducer is disposed within the balloon on the balloon catheter.
 3. Amethod as in claim 2, wherein activating the transducer comprisestransversely oscillating the transducer.
 4. A catheter comprising: acatheter body having a proximal and a distal end; an interface surfacewithin the balloon wherein the interface surface oscillateslongitudinally along the catheter body relative to a proximal portion; atransducer coupled to vibrate the interface surface; an inflatableballoon on the catheter body, proximate the interface surface; and astent carried over the balloon.
 5. A catheter as in claim 4, wherein theballoon is over the interface surface.
 6. A catheter as in claim 5,wherein the transducer is coupled to longitudinally oscillate theinterface surface.